Page 10 of Doll Face

“Take it,” she snapped. “I hope you choke on it.”

Her temper tantrum amused him. Rocco took the money and handed it over. “Remember, whore, you can easily be replaced.”

“Fuck you,” she hissed.

“No, thank you,” Matteo said, slipping the money inside his coat pocket. “Worn pussy doesn’t really do it for me.”

“Asshole,” she said, reaching up to slap his face.

“Careful,” he warned, catching her arm. Then before she could respond, he quickly and easily broke it. She screamed and fell to her knees, and when he let go, her arm hung at an unnatural angle. “Don’t make me come back here, Allegra. Or I’ll have to hurt you more.”

Leaving her crying on the floor, he marched out the door, Rocco following behind to watch his back. Almost immediately, he thought of Macy, and how different she was compared to this place. Compared to his life. He hurt a woman, even though he didn’t like doing it. Being Pietro Romanelli’s only son meant he couldn’t turn his back on who and what he was. A killer. An abuser. A monster. Did he have the right to bring her into his world?

If he was a good person, he would never go back to her coffee shop. Let her find a nice, safe man to have a nice, safe life.

But he never considered himself a good man.

****

Macy yawned as she placed one foot in front of the other. It was going to be a long day and already she was exhausted. A couple more days and she could catch up on sleep. As she greeted Amanda, she thought about Matteo and secretly hoped she saw him again. They hadn’t made any definite plans, but he seemed interested in her.

Still, throughout the day, every time the bell rang, her heart would race until she glanced up and realized it wasn’t Matteo. Disappointment rolled through her, and when closing time rolled around, she knew he wasn’t coming.

As she rode the bus back to her apartment, she tried to convince herself it was for the best and started to list all the reasons why she shouldn’t get her hopes up. They were complete opposites. She was too busy trying to keep her head above water. He was obviously wealthy. He was sophisticated. The list went on, yet still, she was disappointed he hadn’t shown up.

Macy had about an hour left before she had to clock in at the arcade, so she grabbed a quick bite to eat, showered and changed, and ran out the door in record time. The bus dropped her off in front of the arcade and she hurried inside to punch in. Before heading onto the floor, she used her inhaler. All the hurrying left her a little breathless.

“Thought you were going to be late,” Tommy said as she slid behind the counter.

“Who, me? I’m never late.”

He rolled his eyes good naturedly.

For it being a Wednesday, it was certainly hopping, and she stayed busy. A coworker had called out, so Macy found herself running back and forth from the floor to the rewards counter. By the time they closed, her feet hurt and her back ached. Still, if she was going to afford the shots she needed, she had to work as much as possible.

“Want me to give you a ride?” Tommy asked as they punched their timecard.

She should say no because she didn’t want to take advantage of their friendship. She’d grown up in the system, and had learned at an early age that she couldn’t rely on anyone but herself. But she was completely spent and the ride would knock about forty-five minutes from her commute.

“If you don’t mind,” she said. “I can pay you for—”

He held up his hand. “Absolutely not. That’s what BFFs do for one another.”

She smiled, but a yawn hit her at that moment and it took her a moment before she could talk. “Thank you, Tommy.”

He led her out the back where the employee parking was located. After opening her door, he hurried around to the driver’s side and slid behind the wheel. Macy leaned her head back and closed her eyes, and the next thing she knew, she was being shaken awake.

“Hey,” Tommy said. “Now you’re worrying me.”

“I’ll be okay,” she assured.

“You’re working yourself to the bone.”

She shrugged. “I’ll rest when I’m dead.”

“Don’t say shit like that,” he said, scowling.

“Sorry,” she said. “See you tomorrow.”

---